Plasterer&#39;s float



April 1962 D. A. PRUITT 3,029,459

PLASTERERS FLOAT Filed Feb. 29, 1960 Dempsey A. Pruitt INVENTOR.

9 BY 24mm 3,029,459 Patented Apr. 17, 1962 ice 3,029,459 PLASTERERS FLOAT Dempsey A. Pruitt, 705 NE. 70th St., Miami, Fla. Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,646 Claims. or. 15-2354 The present invention relates broadly to implements such as plastering trowels and floats, but more particularly, it pertains to a novel float designed and constructed for leveling, smoothing and finishing the surface of an applied coat of plaster.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a float which has proved out to be highly efiicient and effective in perfecting a uniformly smooth and almost flawless plaster surface on concrete, cement and equivalent solid foundations.

Persons conversant with plaster finishing problems where the foundation is cement, concrete, brick or the like, know of the popularity of a sponge as an applicator. As will be evident from the instant disclosure the applicator or head is in the form of a sponge. However, instead of appropriating and using a common rectangular or an equivalent sponge it is an object here to utilize a sponge, which while it may be said to be block-like, comprises a substantially semi-circular sponge, the latter providing a flat smoothing and working surface and a convex top portion on which a handle is mounted.

With a view toward providing a sponge-type float, it is also an object of the invention to aptly and satisfactorily cope with the problem of securely and reliably mounting the handle in a balanced and an effectually usable position atop the central or median portion of the convex top of the sponge.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention a substantially rigid metal backing plate is used. This plate is of a longitudinally bowed shape and is adhesively attached to the convex sponge surface and provides a practical, simple and economical mounting bracket or fixture for the hand-grip or handle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a sponge-type plasterers float constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the same; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

It will be noted that the over-all implement is characterized by three component parts; namely, the applicator head 4, a handle or hand-grip 6, and an intervening backing and handle attaching bracket 8.

The head 4 comprises, as already suggested, a sub stantially semi-circular, segmental sponge which, when it is dry and generally hard, presents an elongated flat smoothing and finishing surface 10. The longitudinal sides might also be thought of as being substantially flat and parallel and at right angles to the surface 10. The top (sometimes called the back) of the sponge is convex and it is on the median portion of this convex top that the handle attaching fixture or bracket 8 is securely mounted. The bracket which has been found best suited for all-around needs and purposes comprises an aluminum or an equivalent rigid metal plate 12 which is longitudinally bowed and which conforms in arcuity to the curvature of the periphery of the sponge on which it is circumferentially mounted and adhesively or otherwise fixed in place as at 14. The sponges now used have a tough skin-like top surface 16 which lend itself to ready glueing and fixing of the bracket in the manner shown. It should, of course, be noticed that the attaching plate 12 is narrower than the width of the sponge surface on which it is mounted and attached. Also, the length thereof is about as illustrated in the views of the drawings. This can best be described as a construction and arrangement wherein the handle may be commensurate in length with the length of the sponge While the bracket or fixture for mounting and attaching it does not extend in contact with the convex backing, that is, from end to end. In other Words, the transverse end portions of the plate are bent upon themselves at 16 to define upstanding flanges 18 which are lateral to the convex surface and may be said to be at approximate right angles, normally speaking, to the flat surface 10. Each flange is then fashioned into a truncated triangular handle attaching ear or end portion 20. The two ears 20 are coplanar as brought out in FIG. 3 and they are, of course,

spaced from the respective end portions 22 of the sponge which they overhang. This arrangement provides for anchoring the terminal ends 24 of the handle 6. These end portions are fastened in place by screws or equivalent headed fasteners 26. The truncated ends of the ears 20 terminate approximately in line with the respective end portions 28 of the flat surface 10 of the sponge. This construction and arrangement affords the user a well poised and securely anchored handle, a type which the plasterer is acustomed to using on commonly employed wooden floats. With this construction the desired spreading and smoothing pressure may be transferred from the handle to the sponge by way of the intervening attaching bracket or fixture 8. At the same time the end portions 22 which are spaced below the cars 20 allow the thus reduced ends 22 to distort and flatten and squeeze in keeping with the procedural steps of the technique which the user resorts to in skillfully handling the float. Stated otherwise, the arcuate backing plate or bracket hugs the surface of the sponge on which it is adhesively attached and yet provides the upwardly offset ears or end portions 20 for anchoring the ends of the handle and thus takes advantage of the gradually reduced down-curving ends of the sponge and promotes use of the same with requisite nicety.

It is submitted that the particular construction and combination of component parts herein disclosed provides a unique manually usable implement which constitutes an advance in the art and will serve the purposes for which the implement is intended. Being simple, economical and sturdy, it will meet with the manufacturing economies of manufacturers and the needs of plasterers bearing in mind that plasterers use floats in keeping with their individual ideas and skills.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A plasterers float comprising an elongated substantially segmental sponge having a longitudinally curved top, an elongated, longitudinally curved plate mounted circumferentially on the sponge top and including coplanar free end portions extending in spaced, opposed relation to the end portions of the sponge, a generally U-shaped handle mounted on the plate end portions, and fasteners on said plate end portions inserted therethrough from therebeneath and engaged in said handle for removably securing the handle on said plate end portions.

2. A plasterers float comprising an elongated applicator head including a flexible, substantially semicircular, segmental sponge having a flat work-engaging surface and a convex surface, an elongated, longitudinally curved metallic plate mounted longitudinally on said convex surface and permanently adhesively secured thereto, said plate including flat, coplanar end portions extending free of the sponge in spaced relation to the end portions thereof, a generally U-shaped removable handle having its end portions mounted on said plate end portions, and means detachably securing said handle end portions on said plate end portions.

3. A plasterers float in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plate end portions have apertures therein, said means including screws inserted upwardly through the apertures from beneath the plate and screwed into the handle end portions.

4. A plasterers float in accordance with claim 3, wherein the longitudinal edges of the plate are spaced inwardly from the longitudinal sides of the sponge.

5. A plasterers float comprising an elongated applicator head including a substantially semi-circular, segmental, flexible sponge having a fiat work-engaging surface, flat parallel longitudinal sides and a convex surface, an elongated, longitudinally curved metallic plate mounted longitudinally on said convex surface and permanently adhesively secured thereto in inwardly spaced relation to said longitudinal sponge sides, said plate comprising outwardly angularly transversely bent intermediate portions inwardly of the sponge ends and terminating in truncated, coplanar, apertured free end portions extending in spaced opposed relation to the end portions of the sponge, a generally U-shaped handle mounted on the plate with its ends engaged on one side of said free end portions thereof, and screws inserted through the apertures of the plate end portions from the other side thereof and threaded into the handle end portions for rernovably securing the handle on the plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,825,080 Moroford Sept. 29, 1931 2,259,653 Mitchell Oct. 21, 1941 2,458,754 Wallace Jan. 11, 1949 2,910,714 Becker Nov. 3, 1959 

